Ironing apparatus for intermittently fed web material



Sept. v12, 1967 H. OBERRECH T IRONING APPARATUS FOR INTERMITTENTLY FEDWEB MATERIAL Filed Nov.'l9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

L MP HA ,v zi/v 7-5/2 OQEEEEcnr I United States Patent 8 Claims. (on.381) The present invention relates to apparatus for the smoothing orironing of flexible webs, such as webs consisting of fabric, syntheticor the like ironable material, more particularly to an ironingarrangement for use 1n connection with processing or the like apparatusof the type wherein the web is intermittently fed or withdrawn from asupply on its way to a work or processing station. An example is theintermittent feeding of a continuous fabric or the like Web to anautomatic sewing apparatus preparatory to the carrying out of a seriesof integrated processing steps or operations, such as folding, cutting,hemming, etc.

It is customary in the operation of automatlc or semiautomatic sewing orthe like processing devices to utilize a continuous web of material tobe operated on, said web being supplied either in the form of a stockroll with the web wound into a cylindrical spiral, or in the form of astack with the web being folded back and forth zig-zag fashion, desiredlengths of material being intermittently withdrawn from said roll orstack and fed to the processing apparatus or work station. In the use ofstock rolls, the feeding apparatus required becomes rather costly so asto be justified economically only in the case of working relativelyexpensive or high-grade materials. In all other cases, especially in themanufacture of linen goods, the material is ordinarily available orprovided in folded stack form, whereby to involve the possibility offormation of undesirable folding pleats or creases in the web orsections thereof fed to the processing station. The greater the stackand the longer the storing periods, the more pronounced will be thecreases formed in the material.

In the utilization and processing of webs of material fed intermittentlyfrom a folded stack in the manner pointed out, the creases in the webdue to stacking are highly undesirable in preventing, among otherdefects and drawbacks, a perfectly flat shape or support of the websections or cuts in the sewing or other processing devices. Thus, in thecase where a pleat or crease closely adjoins the edge of a workpiece orcut, the hemming, folding or the like devices may be prevented fromproperly gripping or working the edges of the workpiece. This has madeit necessary in the past to use perfectly smooth webs as provided, forinstance, by a stock roll, or to take into account the waste, as well asthe loss of operating or processing time associated with the use offolded webs in connection with automatic processing operations.

The use of suitable ironing devices preceding the feeding or processingdevices has been found to be unsatisfactory in view of the unavoidableand unforeseeable interruptions of the processing operations, such asfor the exchange of the lower bobbin thread and the replenishing of theupper thread of an automatic sewing machine, or due to disturbances ofthe processing apparatus and other causes. In all such cases, theironing drum or the like device remains in contact with the web over anundue period of time, whereby to result in singeing or burning of thematerial. On the other hand, the use of suitable safety devices to avoidthe latter defect, such as by retraction of the ironing drum or the likefrom the web in the case of a disturbance or interruption of theprocessing operation, is found to be costly on account of the relativelycomplex mechanical control devices required, such as a swivellingsupport for the ironing drum, guide and linkage elements, etc.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is theprovision of improved ironing apparatus of the referred to type designedfor use in conjunction with processing and the like devices utilizing anintermittently fed flexible web, preferably in the form of a foldedstack, said apparatus being both simple in design and construction aswell as devoid of the foregoing and related defects and drawbacksinherent in the prior devices and arrangements.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improvedironing arrangement of the referred to type designed especially for usewith webs supplied in folded form and fed intermittently to a processingor work station, whereby temporary interruptions of the operation of theprocessing apparatus, such as due to mechanical or other defects orfailures or resulting from the carrying out of adjustments or controls,will not result in excessive heating of the web by the ironing deviceand resultant singeing or burning of the material, despite the web beingpassed in continuous contact with the ironing drum or equivalent ironingmember.

The invention, both as to the foregoing and ancillary objects, as wellas novel aspects thereof, will be better understood from the followingdetailed description of a preferred practical embodiment, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ironing arrangement designed for use inconnection with intermittently fed webs and constructed in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, shown partly in section, of the ironingdrum forming part of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an electric wiring diagram of the intermittent ironingarrangement of the invention shown by the preceding figures.

Like reference numerals denote like parts in the different views of thedrawings.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention, according to one ofits aspects, involves generally the provision of a rotatable ironingdrumincluding means, preferably in the form of a number of electricalheating resistors, to heat a circumferential half-section of said drumto ironing temperature, and intermittent web feeding means, such as inthe form of a spring-pressed pressure roller or the like. First fixedguide means serve to successively pass the web from the folded stack inoperative contact with said drum and through said feeding means, whileadditional movable guide means serve to temporarily store a portion ofthe web, upon emerging from the feeding means on its way to a workstation, in the form of a loop of predetermined length, in such a manneras to shorten said loop upon withdrawal of a length of the web by theprocessing device or station.'Furthermore, first electrical control .andswitching means actuatable by and in the shortened position of said webor displaceable guide means, respectively, serve to operate the webfeeding means after a withdrawal operation by the processing station, torestore said loop to its predetermined length preparatory and for thecarrying out of a subsequent withdrawal operation. Synchronized andcooperating with the intermittent web feeding and storing operations areadditional electrical control and switching means designed to controlsaid drum in such a manner as to maintain the drum in an angularposition of engagement of its heated section with the web during the webfeeding operations by said feeding means, on the one hand, and tomaintain said drum in an angular position of engagement of its unheatedsection with said web in the inoperative or rest positions of thefeeding means, on the other hand. In other words, the ironing drum isadjusted in such a manner in dependence upon the intermittent feedingoperations as to cause the web to be in contact with the heated drumsection during the intermittent web feeding periods only, or to renderthe operation of the ironing device independent of the condition oroperation of the processing apparatus, in a manner as will be understoodand become further apparent as the description proceeds in reference tothe drawings.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, the web 1 (fabric, syntheticmaterial, etc.) provided in the form of a folded stack 2 is led from thelatter and by way of guide rollers 3, 4 and 8 to first embrace theironing drum 7, having a pair of cylindrical half-sections 5 and 6, andto thereafter engage the drawoif or feed roller 10. The lattercooperates in a known manner with a pressure roller 9, to feed orwithdraw the web 1 from the stack 2, as described in greater detail inthe following. In the preferred arrangement of the rollers 3, 4, and 8,the web 1 embraces the drum over an angle of about 150l70, that is, lessthan 180 as shown in the drawing.

Mounted within and close to the inside of the halfsection 6 of the drum7 are a number of electrical heating resistors 11, FIG. 2, while bothhalves of the drum are advantageously separated from one another by aheatinsulating spacer 12.

The web 1, after passing between the feed roller 10 and pressure roller11, is furthermore led, by the aid of a first displaceable or shuttleguide roller 13 and a further fixed guide roller 14, to form a verticaldepending loop .1 serving as a temporary storage prior to theintermittent withdrawal of the material by the processing station, asindicated by the arrow A in the drawing and as will become furtherapparent as the description proceeds. The shuttle roller 13, in theexample shown, has its axis arranged to move within a vertical guide 13,whereby the position of the roller being controlled by gravity isdetermined by the length of the loop 1', in the manner to be furtherexplained in the following.

The feed roller 10 is driven, in the example shown, by a conventionalelectric motor 15 having a shaft 16 which carries a pulley 17. Power istransmitted from the motor 15 to the roller 10 through a belt 18embracing the pulley 17, on the one hand, and a further pulley 20mounted upon the shaft 19 of the roller 10, on the other hand.

The ironing drum 7 is driven by a conventional reversible electric motor21 having a shaft 22 which carries a pulley 2-3. Power is transmitted,in the example shown, from the motor 21 to the drum 7 by means of a belt24 embracing the pulley 23, on the one hand, a further pulley 26 mountedupon the shaft of the drum 7, on the other hand.

Affixed to the shuttle roller 13 is a cam 27 arranged to cooperate withthe control pins or the like actuating members of a pair of stationaryelectrical limit switches 28 and 29 disposed at the upper and lower endsof the path of the roller 13 or guide 13', respectively. Furthermore,secured to the end of the shaft 25 of the drum 7 is a cam 30 arranged tocooperate with the stationary control pins or the like actuating membersof a pair of further stationary limit switches 31 and 32 disposeddiametrically opposite in respect to the shaft 25, in the manner shown.

Switch 28, FIG. 3, has a pair of contacts 33 and switch 29 has two pairsof contacts 34 and 35, while switch 31 has a pair of contacts 36 andswitch 32 has two pairs of contacts 37 and 38, respectively.

Items 39, 41 and 43 represent relays having cooperating switchingcontacts 39a, 41a and 43a, respectively. Connected in series with therelay winding 39 is a normally open (holding) contact 39b, connected inseries with the relay winding 4-1 is a normally closed (safety) contact43b, and connected in series with the relay winding 43 is a norm-allyclosed (safety) contact 41b, coordinated relay contacts being designatedby like numerals followed by different letters denoting the associatedcontacts.

Control of the heating resistors 11 is effected by way of a thermostatcontrol switch 48 and a further relay 49 having switching contacts 49a,to connect the resistors to and to disconnect the same from the powersource shown in the form of an electrical threeaphase network RST. Thethree-phase motors 2-1 and 15 are energized by the three phases of thenetwork RST, while the relays 39, 41, 43 and 49 are energized by asingle phase R of the network in cooperation with the neutral conductorM in the manner shown and understood. The reversible motor 21 mayadvantageously be of the conventional type, whereby interchange of twosupply phases (R and T in the example shown) results in the reversal ofthe direction of rotation, in the manner further described in andunderstood from the following.

The operation of the invention as exemplified by the drawing will now bedescribed in the following.

Upon closing of a main control switch (not shown), to connect the deviceto the power source RST, resistors 11 are energized by the closing ofcontacts 49a of the relay 49", the thermostat control switch 48 servingin a known manner to maintain a substantially constant ironingtemperature of the heated section 6 of the drum 7.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, the device and electrical circuit are shown in thenormal or rest position. If now a predetermined length of the web 1 iswithdrawn in the direction of the arrow A by the associated processingdevice, such as an automatic sewing machine (not shown), the loop 1' ofthe web 1 between the feed roller 10 and fixed guide roller 14 isshortened, whereby the shuttle guide roller 15 is displaced in an upwarddirection along the guide 13' to a position opposite to the limit switch28. As a consequence, cam 27 upon the roller 13 at first releases theswitch 29, to result in the closing of contacts 34 and in the opening ofcontacts 35 (FIG. 3), and subsequently actuates the switch 28 in theupper limit position of the roller 13. This, in turn, results in theclosing of contacts 33, whereby to energize the relay 41 by way ofcontacts 43b and 37 and to close the switch contacts 4101, while at thesame time opening safety contact 41b. As a consequence, the motor 21 isstarted in the direction of rotation as indicated by the arrow V, FIG.1, to in turn rotate the ironing drum 7 through an angle of from theposition shown of engagement of the web 1 with the unheated section 5 toa position of engagement of the web with the heated section 6 of thedrum. Upon arrival of the drum in the end position, cam 30 actuates thelimit switch 32, whereby to open contacts 37 and to close contacts 38,FIG. 3. Immediately after the start of rotation of the drum 7, contacts36 have been closed by release of the switch 31.

Opening of contacts 37, in turn, results in the deenergization of relay41, whereby to stop the motor 21 by release of switch contacts 41a, toreclose contact 41b, and to arrest the drum 7.

Besides, closing of contacts 38 of switch 32 causes energization ofrelay 39, whereby to close switching contacts 39a and holding contact39b. As consequence, motor 15 driving the feed roller 10 is started,whereby to withdraw a portion of the web 1 from the stack 2 via rollers3, 4 and 8 and in contact with the heated section 6 of the ironing drum7, whereby to result in the smoothing or ironing of the pleats orcreases in the material withdrawn from the stack 2. As a consequence,the loop 1' is restored to its original length by the roller 13descending by virtue of its gravity from its upper limit position to thelower or rest position as shown in FIG. 1, thereby returning the deviceto a position for the subsequent withdrawal of a new length of materialby the processing station.

Assuming now that, due to a disturbance in the sewing or the likeprocessing apparatus, no more material or a lesser amount of material isrequired than has been fed by the roller 10, the roller 13 during itsdownward movement at first releases cont-acts 33 of switch 28 andsubsequently operates switch 29 upon reaching the lowermost limitposition. As a consequence, the relay 39 is deenergized, whereby toresult in the opening of holding contact 39b and of switching contacts39a, to in turn cause the arrest of the motor 15 and with it of the feedroller 10. At the same time, relay 43 is energized by way of previouslyclosed contact 36 and contact 35, whereby to close switching contacts43a and open the safety contact 43b. As a consequence, the motor 21 isnow started in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrow R, FIG.1, whereby to return the ironing drum 7 to its starting or restposition, or position of disengagements of its heated section 6 from theweb 1, as shown by FIG. 1.

Upon the drum 7 reaching the normal or rest position, switch 31 isactuated by the cam 30, whereby to open contacts 36, to deenergize relay43 to close safety contact 43b, and to arrest the motor 21.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the web 1 is in contact with theheated section 6 of the drum 7 during the feeding intervals oroperations of the roller 10- or the like feeding means only, whereby toenable the sewing or the like processing apparatus to interrupt itsoperation during any length of time between successive web feedingcycles, substantially without the danger of prolonged heating andresultant singeing or burning of the material. In other words, theironing drum is controlled in such a manner, by the function of thelimit switches 29 and 30 and shuttle roller 13 and in dependence uponthe feeding movements of the web, that the web is in contact with theheated drum section during the actual feeding periods by the roller 10only, while being in contact with the non-heated drum section during itsperiods of rest or between successive feeding operations. In otherwords, the driving motor 15 of the feed roller 10 may be energized onlyafter the heated section of the drum 7 has been brought into contactwith the web 1, to heat or iron the web during the feeding periods only,while the web is disengaged from the heated drum section during theinoperative or rest periods of the feed roller 10.

The function of the holding contact 39b of relay 39 is to maintain therelay and feed motor 15 in energized condition after opening of contacts33 of switch 28 immediately upon the roller 13 starting its downwardmovement. Furthermore, the function of the safety contacts 41b and 43bis to positively restrict operation of motor 21 to the respectivedirections, or prevent any out-ofphase operation of the drum 7 as aresult of mechanical or electrical disturbances.

As will be understood, the invention is not limited in its use to foldedwebs, but may be used in connection with any form of web supply andmeans to intermittently feed the web to a processing or work stationwhere it is desirable or necessary to iron the workpiece or web sectionprior to the feeding to the processing apparatus.

In the foregoing the invention has been described in reference to aspecific illustrative device. It will be evident, however, thatvariations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalentparts or elements for those shown for illustration, may be made inaccordance with the broader scope and spirit of the invention as setforth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings areaccordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in arestrictive sense.

I claim:

1. In combination with a web of material folded zigzagfashion into astack and means to intermittently withdraw predetermined lengths of saidweb from said stack on its way to a processing station, ironingapparatus comprising in combination:

(1) a rotatable ironing drum including means to heat a fractionalcircumferential section thereof to ironing temperature,

(2) a first reversible electric motor to drive said drum,

(3) a feed roller to withdraw. said web from said stack,

(4) a second electric motor to drive said roller,

(5) first guide means to successively pass said web in contact with saiddrum and said roller,

(6) further guide means for said web comprising a first displaceableguide roller operable between two limit positions and a second fixedguide roller, to form a loop of said Web varying length by said firstguide roller upon said web emerging from said feed roller on its Way tothe processing station,

(7) means to normally urge said second guide roller to its limitposition of maximum length of said Web,

(8) a pair of first electrical switching means actuatable, respectively,by and in the limit positions of said first guide roller,

(9) :a pair of second electrical switching means actuatable,respectively, by and in diametrically opposite positions of said drum,and

(10) electrical circuit and control means operably interconnecting saidfirst and second motor and said first and second pairs of switchingmeans, whereby withdrawal of predetermined lengths of said web by theprocessing station and resultant displacement of said first guide rollerfrom its limit position of maximum length of said loop to its positionon minimum length of said loop will result in the automatic sequentialoperations of rotating said drum by said first motor in a firstdirection from a normal position of disengagement of the heated sectionof the drum from said web to a position of engagement of said heatedsection with said web, stopping said first motor and rotating saidsecond motor, to withdraw said web from said stack by said feed roller,to thereby restore said loop to its maximum length by said first guideroller, stopping said second motor and rotating said first motor in adirection opposite to said first direction, to return said drum to itsposition of engagement of its unheated section with said web upon saidfirst guide roller assuming its position of maximum length of said loop.

2. In ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said drum having heatedand unheated sections each embracing a circumferential area of 180, andsaid web contacting said drum over an angle of less than 180 3. Inironing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said web embracing said drumover an angle of 170.

4. In ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said loop having a pairof vertical and parallel legs and the axis of said first guide rollermovable within a vertical guide and urged by gravity to its lowermostposition of maximum length of said loop.

5. In ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said drum having heatedand unheated sections each embracing a circumferential area of saiddrum, and a heat insulating spacer interposed between said sections.

6. In ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said heating means beingcomprised of a plurality of electrical heating resistors disposed insideand adjoining a fractional circumferential portion of said drum.

7. In combination with a supply of web material and means tointermittently withdraw predetermined lengths of said web on its way toa processing station, ironing apparatus comprising in combination:

(1) a rotatable ironing drum including means to heat a fractionalcircumferential section thereof to ironing temperature,

(2) web feeding means,

(3) guide means to successively pass said web from said supply incontact with a fractional circumferential section of said drum andthrough said feeding means,

(4) further guide means to temporarily store a portion 7 8 of said webupon emerging from said feeding means web in the rest positions of saidfeeding means, rein the form of a loop of predetermined length,inspectively. eluding means to shorten said loop upon withdrawal 8. Inironing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, said drum of a length of web bythe processing station, having heated and unheated sections eachembracing a (5) first electrical control and switching means actu- 5circumferential area of 180, said web embracing said atable by and inthe shortened position of said loop, drum over an angle of from l50170,and a heat into operate said feeding means and to restore said sulatingspacer interposed between the sections of said loop to its predeterminedlength, and u (6) further electrical control and switching means co-References Cited operating with said first control and switching means10 UNITED STATES PATENTS and controlling said drum, to maintain saiddrum in 1 809 467 6/1931 Asher a position of engagement of its heatedsection with 1:912:724 6/1933 Remington said web during the webwithdrawing periods by said 2,581,018 1/1952 Hatay X feeding means, andto maintain said drum in a position of engagement of its unheatedsection with said 15 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WEB OF MATERIAL FOLDED ZIGZAGFASHION INTO ASTACK AND MEANS TO INTERMITTENTLY WITHDRAW PREDETERMINED LENGTHS OF SAIDWEB FROM SAID STACK ON ITS WAY TO A PROCESSING STATION, IRONINGAPPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (1) A ROTATABLE IRONING DRUMINCLUDING MEANS TO HEAT A FRACTIONAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL SECTION THEREOF TOIRONING TEMPERATURE, (2) A FIRST REVERSIBLE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO DRIVE SAIDDRUM, (3) A FEED ROLLER TO WITHDRAW SAID WEB FROM SAID STACK, (4) ASECOND ELECTRIC MOTOR TO DRIVE SAID ROLLER, (5) FIRST GUIDE MEANS TOSUCCESSIVELY PASS SAID WEB IN CONTACT WITH SAID DRUM AND SAID ROLLER,(6) FURTHER GUIDE MEANS FOR SAID WEB COMPRISING A FIRST DISPLACEABLEGUIDE ROLLER OPERABLE BETWEEN TWO LIMIT POSITIONS AND A SECOND FIXEDGUIDE ROLLER, TO FORM A LOOP OF SAID WEB VARYING LENGTH BY SAID FIRSTGUIDE ROLLER UPON SAID WEB EMERGING FROM SAID FEED ROLLER ON ITS WAY TOTHE PROCESSING STATION, (7) MEANS TO NORMALLY URGE SAID SECOND GUIDEROLLER TO ITS LIMIT POSITION OF MAXIMUM LENGTH OF SAID WEB, (8) A PAIROF FIRST ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS ACTUATABLE, RESPECTIVELY, BY AND INTHE LIMIT POSITIONS OF SAID FIRST GUIDE ROLLER, (9) A PAIR OF SECONDELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS ACTUATABLE, RESPECTIVELY, BY AND INDIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE POSITIONS OF SAID DRUM, AND (10) ELECTRICALCIRCUIT AND CONTROL MEANS OPERABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECONDMOTOR AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF SWITCHING MEANS, WHEREBYWITHDRAWAL OF PREDETERMINED LENGTHS OF SAID WEB BY THE PROCESSINGSTATION AND RESULTANT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID FIRST GUIDE ROLLER FROM ITSLIMIT POSITION OF MAXIMUM LENGTH OF SAID LOOP TO ITS POSITION ON MINIMUMLENGTH OF SAID LOOP WILL RESULT IN THE AUTOMATIC SEQUENTIAL OPERATIONSOF ROTATING SAID DRUM BY SAID FIRST MOTOR IN A FIRST DIRECTION FROM ANORMAL POSITION OF DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HEATED SECTION OF THE DRUM FROMSAID WEB TO A POSITION OF ENGAGEMENT OF SAID HEATED SECTION WITH SAIDWEB, STOPPING SAID FIRST MOTOR AND ROTATING SAID SECOND MOTOR, TOWITHDRAW SAID WEB FROM SAID STACK BY SAID FEED ROLLER, TO THEREBYRESTORE SAID LOOP TO ITS MAXIMUM LENGTH BY SAID FIRST GUIDE ROLLER,STOPPING SAID SECOND MOTOR AND ROTATING SAID FIRST MOTOR IN A DIRECTIONOPPOSITE TO SAID FIRST DIRECTION, TO RETURN SAID DRUM TO ITS POSITION OFENGAGEMENT OF ITS UNHEATED SECTION WITH SAID WEB UPON SAID FIRST GUIDEROLLER ASSUMING ITS POSITION OF MAXIMUM LENGTH OF SAID LOOP.